The predator's tale Denise Hamilton, Denise Hamilton, a former Times reporter, is the author of the Eve Diamond crime novels.

Blockbusters they're not David Thomson, David Thomson's new book, "The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood," will be published by Alfred A. Knopf in December.

Rays of light on Asia's darkest cloud Warren I. Cohen, Warren I. Cohen, distinguished university professor of history at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and senior scholar in the Asia Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, is the author of "The Asian American Century" and the forthcoming "America's Failing Empire: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1989."

Higher society to higher office Bill Boyarsky, Bill Boyarsky, former Times city editor and columnist, is the author of "The Rise of Ronald Reagan" and "Ronald Reagan: His Life and Rise to the Presidency."

Can you dig it? Herbert Gold, Herbert Gold is the author of "Bohemia" and "Best Nightmare on Earth: A Life in Haiti," among other books.

The fantastic, elastic human heart Bernadette Murphy, Bernadette Murphy is a regular contributor to Book Review and the author of "Zen and the Art of Knitting," a work of narrative nonfiction.

The blazing guns of legend Jonathan Kirsch, Jonathan Kirsch, a contributing writer to Book Review, is the author of, most recently, "God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism."

This Office Should Be Spotless Tony Quinn, Tony Quinn served on the Fair Political Practices Commission and has written extensively on election-related matters.

Fight to Finish This Time? F.J. Bing West, F.J. Bing West, an assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration, visits Iraq frequently as a military journalist. His book, "No True Glory, the Battle for Fallouja," will be published by Bantam in the spring.

War Comes to the Green Zone Stephen A. Myrow, Stephen A. Myrow served in Iraq as the chief of staff of the Coalition Provisional Authority's Transportation Ministry.

An 'Oh, Wow, Great, Yea' Moment Mia MacDonald, Mia MacDonald is a policy analyst and writer who works on environment, development, gender and population issues. She has taught in the human rights program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and is a senior fellow of the Worldwatch Institute.

Deadlocked Democracy: What Would Teddy Do? H.W. Brands, H.W. Brands has written biographies of Roosevelt and Wilson; he currently teaches at Texas A&M University and will be teaching at the University of Texas in the spring.

Be Afraid (If You're a Chicken) Wendy Orent, Wendy Orent is the author of "Plague: The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous Disease."